ALL NOVEL 379. orchid gifts.
November 4.
-When someone attacks, someone can counterattack, but sometimes the war needs to be played out, and it’s a long game. The longer the game is played, the more is gained. However, Billy's lawsuit should have been filed after the stock market exploded with its AOL merger. However, the time for the lawsuit could not be extended further, as his next steps in the Cold War could not be retracted. A Cold War that merely causes more problems is not the starting point. For now, the lawsuit remains unknown to the public and all those around him.
-Damn it… - Terry Semel shouted, slamming his desk so forcefully that everything on it was knocked over in a surge of frustration, creating a commotion in his own office.
He needed to calm down and think things through! The lawyers had already scheduled a venue and adapted to the problem, but the entire situation was calculated as a powerful lawsuit, with a 60% chance of losing. The kid had paid three gigantic teams and promised a share of the winnings for victories—this was an open secret. The legion of lawyers, accountants, and numerous experts… it was rumored that the case had been shown to at least 200 people, including several accountants and experts employed by Warner’s firm. This widespread involvement had stirred up an improbable sense of harassment among many people.
-Sir, you have a board meeting to attend. - commented his secretary, a beautiful blonde with blue eyes and a seductive smile, who was unfazed by the chaos and disorder anticipated.
A lawsuit of this magnitude cannot be ignored. Some even consider that his leadership as head alongside Bob Daly is ineffective, especially when pushing things to the limit with someone who could have been a great partner.
The table was set, with the agenda, and key unions of all existing records.
Gerald Levin: President and CEO of Time Warner
Ted Turner: Vice President of Time Warner
Richard D. Parsons: President of Time Warner
J. Michael Fuchs: President of HBO
Bob Daly: Chairman and Co-CEO of Warner Bros. Entertainment
Terry Semel: Chairman and Co-CEO of Warner Bros. Entertainment
Barry Meyer: Corporate Director of Time Warner.
This was the board meeting held in the Warner Bros. Studios halls—a complex and contentious meeting with aggressive options that could not be denied. The previous meeting discussing the merger and acquisition was not the only item on the agenda.
-First, let’s address the unpleasant issue that concerns us and how we must address it without compromising ourselves. – said Gerald Levin. – We have a lawsuit for $1 billion, and this is no game. If we lose, the debt could rise for two simple reasons. First, one of the petitions demands that we improve the quality of our series.
Terry took a deep breath and attended with the seriousness required of him as President of Warner Bros., and as Hanna-Barbera, under his charge, should be in the role of producing. But the peculiar thing is that the lawsuit is not against Warner but against Hanna-Barbera, which holds the rights to MGM, acquired some time ago, including The Flintstones, Scooby-Doo, and Looney Tunes... their favorable series. It implies that if they lose, they could either pay the price or hand over Hanna-Barbera with all its rights... which would spell the end of the animated channels.
This was the fury that the kid had audaciously directed at Hanna-Barbera, not at Warner.
-I hate the way things are unfolding. But the kid’s intentions are clear. – commented Ted Turner, who had known his wife for some time. He found the young man sensible, which is why, given the character assessment, he could propose a strategy to negotiate an early settlement.
-Do you think he will agree to a settlement? – asked Ted Turner.
-He won’t. – Barry Meyer, the Corporate Director of Warner, said firmly. – It turns out that in recent years, we’ve had 14 legal battles with Billy Carson, of which we still have three ongoing lawsuits… The corporate strategy at that time was to absorb the collapse of Lux Animation after its downfall, but that never happened. In this period, we’ve had around 24 broken negotiations with Warner, and in total, we’ve lost 4 lawsuits, with six being balanced and one fully won. The other three are expected to have a balanced outcome. There is a precedent cited six months ago approved by a judge in the case Warner vs. Lux Animation (contractual disputes). Curiously, the case was balanced, but the judge ruled that the negotiation agreement was manipulated as a delaying clause. There is a precedent, and I fear that if we delay this time, there could be repercussions. – Barry commented.
-Smiling at Terry, his eyes were fixed on the Warner Bros. CEO position—where he had been for some time.
-Would we be willing to sacrifice Hanna-Barbera? – asked Richard D. Parsons. – I understand we quickly set up a contract to form Cartoon Network Productions, to offload Hanna-Barbera. I made an estimate, and its commercial value is $300 million. But if we consider the licenses and other relevant factors, we're talking about an average of $600 million at most, stretching the company’s commercial value to its limit.
-Of course, if it’s not decided, commercial solidarity. – commented the attorney present. Everyone turned to look at him, from another major law firm.
-Could you explain, attorney? – asked Gerald Levin.
-Well, it’s true that the lawsuit is directed at Hanna-Barbera, at least initially. But in the second instance, the contractual responsibility falls on Warner Bros. We cannot separate one from the other – the attorney said firmly.
***
-We have the ratings for the first weekend. – said Jim Gianopulos.
-We have them. We earned $29.8 million in the first weekend, but this could increase. According to the reviews, the data, and the kids' attitudes, I believe toy sales will be double the usual… – Raimon sighed. – I think we can now call this series a success, one of the best starts of the year. A Bug’s Life had $24.4 million on its opening weekend, and final sales were $232 million, but the momentum wasn’t the same. This time, do you think they can break the $300 million barrier, only surpassed by the first Toy Story?
The stars trembled. Billy’s absence to participate in the Lilo & Stitch tour across different U.S. capitals led to a process of expanding the network with his many friends, and one more guest appearance yesterday. It was George Lucas’s turn. They shared a space and many secrets at the Toronto cinema.
-I like everything that’s happening at the company. – Jim commented, that the euphoria of success is contagious, and if you start proposing your ideas, it could be magnificent.
-I have an idea… you can review it! – Jim asked.
-You want to create a film festival. – Raimon asked, eyes wide open. Creating an animated film festival is complete madness. However, it’s impossible; production costs are extremely high.
-They are. And that’s what I fear most… Graduating salaries are not something anyone likes. That’s why it’s impossible, it’s not like independent films, which need some other people. Even if we make animated shorts, the quality cannot be as good as an independent film. Studios would have to spend at least $10 million, but there’s the problem—this price cannot be independent – Jim Gianopulos commented.
-I think Billy might have some ideas. However, we could fund animated shorts for future series. And propose a lucrative award, along with a job. Maybe if done through universities as final theses, we could achieve something incredible. – Raimon commented. For now, only three schools have the resources to carry out such an application.
-It’s still a headache. – Jim Gianopulos said. Promoting animation, like Sundance in New York, Venice, or Cannes, is merely a passion for the medium. And of course, creation and promotion are other aspects that can emerge from being a director and deeply loving every detail.
-I think I’d like that, but why not propose a Sundance-style festival with an animated category, in promotion? – Raimon suggested.
-There are plenty of problems with most solutions. Sundance's policies are quite problematic, to say the least. – Jim responded.
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